Making friends gets harder as you get older.
Especially if you’re an introvert and don’t just “collect” friends like some extroverts are able to do.
Once you’ve finished school and university where connections are more naturally formed, you end up with one question on your mind: How to make friends at work as an introvert?
After all, those of us who work at an office spend most of their time there! Below are 6 easy ways to make friends as an introvert.
1. Offer to help someone
The easiest way to make friends at work as an introvert is to engage in a chat that goes beyond small talk. But how do you do that?
Well, as introverts, we tend to shine when we know our topic. And when we’ve spent a bit of time at our job, we usually know what we’re doing. So, there is nothing easier than offering help to someone!
Whether you see that a co-worker has too much to do, or you have a new person in your team who doesn’t yet know everything: ask them if they need help.
2. Seek one-on-one conversations
If you try to make friends while going out to lunch with your whole team, you might get discouraged. It’s harder to participate in chats with so many people. And you might feel weird just talking to the person next to you, too.
So, I suggest joining someone who’s alone. A person who goes out by themselves to get lunch, for instance. Maybe they’re an introvert, too, and just need some time away from too many people?
3. Not every large group is equal
It’s always harder to become part of a group than to make friends with one person. But you don’t have to dismiss groups altogether to make friends at work as an introvert.
At my last workplace, there were just too many extroverts. Whenever they all came together, they talked so much, discussed anything and everything. My brain got overstimulated just by listening. And for that reason, I almost never said a word.
If you encounter the same type of group at your workplace, don’t force yourself to join it. Sure, sometimes you’ll have to. For team outings, special occasions… But you don’t have to have lunch with them every day.
4. Work on a project with someone
Remember how much easier it was to make friends in school or university? That’s probably because you always had something in common to talk about.
Recreating a similar context in your job can truly help you make friends at work as an introvert.
5. Attend an office party
There is something completely different about an office party compared to a work lunch. For one, it’s usually outside of your worktime. Sometimes also outside of your workplace.
And… people tend to drink. At least in my experience. Believe me, it’s so much easier to make friends with happy, drunk people than stressed out, serious people!
6. Don’t let your frustration out on other people
Think about it: would you want to be friends with someone who is usually super nice, but randomly explodes at you once in a while? I wouldn’t. In fact, I haven’t.
Don’t be like that girl. It’s okay to get stressed, or frustrated, and you have every right to express that. But don’t be mean to people, even if they annoy you right at that moment. Otherwise, you might struggle to make friends at work as an introvert. Or extrovert, for that matter.
